Hansol Kim triumphs: Muvi Prize for K-Pop clip K-Bob Star!

Hansol Kim triumphs: Muvi Prize for K-Pop clip K-Bob Star!

Oberhausen, Deutschland - Hansol Kim won the 27th Muvi Prize at the international short film days Oberhausen on May 3, 2025. The Muvi Prize, which is awarded for the best German music video, was presented as part of the 71st international short film days, which took place from April 29 to May 4, 2025. His music video "K-Bob Star" on the music of Cardi B is a joint project between Germany and South Korea, which was released in 2024 and has a duration of 3 minutes and 1 second.

Kim’s work examines various topics, including the interfaces of generations, the role of women in the K-pop industry and the aspects of care work. Cooperation with several generations of women, especially grandmother, creates a cross -generational narrative. The video questions common ideas of age and gender. Ironic references to cultural elements such as Kimchi serve to illuminate the questions of appropriation and cultural identity.

award ceremony and competition

During the event, over 231 music videos were submitted, from which 12 were selected. The total value of the prices was 3,500 euros. The jury, consisting of Lin, (filmmaker from Myanmar), Xenia Lesniewski (visual artist from Austria) and Jo Zimmermann (musician and draftsman from Germany), chose Hansol Kim's work as the first prize. The Muvi Prize is endowed with 2,000 euros, which underlines the meaning and recognition of the price.

The successes of Kim's video are part of a larger trend that shapes South Korean pop culture. According to a report by SRF, South Korea is currently experiencing a boom in pop culture, which in addition to K-POP, TV series such as "Squid Game" and the Oscar-winning film "Parasite" are due. Historians explain that the Korean wave began at the end of the 1990s, after the end of the Cold War, and developed through the common cultural identity of Asian countries.

The South Korean government actively supports this development in order to market pop culture internationally. This dynamic is not only shown in music, but also by the popularity of South Korean products, which are often marked with the prefix "K", which indicates the global success of K-Beauty, K-Food and K-Clothes. The strong marketing and the appealing talents of the K-pop stars attract both national and international spectators and strengthen the influence of Korean culture.